C&C 3 game will not run

[patnmor]

Hey all. I have the original Tiberium Wars retail disk(along with Kane's Wrath) from when it was first released. I now have a Windows 10 machine. When I installed and tried to play the game, nothing happened. No error screen, no weird flickering, nothing. I'm just about ready to either buy it from Steam or-god forbid- create an Origin account. Has anyone else come across this problem, and were you able to find a fix or work around?

[pick meta or i'm afk]

what ended up working for me (but could probably be a set of things i did) was running it with windows vista sp2 compatibility mode... you could additionally try copying de dx9 dlls found in system 32 folder to the install folder of the game (i added them to both places where i had cnc executables) and i think those 2 things were the most important changes i made. hope it helps. (p.s. i never changed anything with my drivers) also if necessary check if you are running the program with global settings from the nvidia control panel if your gpu is nvidia. i think thats about it.

[Jason Blackwolf]

"if you are running the program with global settings from the nvidia control panel if your gpu is nvidia."
if your gpu is AMD do almost the same - check switchable graphics application settings, add prorgram CNC3.exe and set it for "high performance".
the general problem here is that game starts running on integrated video and crashes.

[Radioactive]

Originally posted by patnmor:

I'm ... or-god forbid- create an Origin account.

Just for the record, don't bother with origin, the C&C collection is terrible. Most of it doesn't work out of the box on a modern OS (like win10) and it also is locked to Origin as a DRM form - which wouldn't matter except that it breaks most of the online fixes that would have worked for the First Decade bundle.

[patnmor]

Thanks for the info guys. I try it again over the next few days. I really want ot play it again mainly because of a cool mod called Tiberium Essence. I really love all the old TibSun units that were brought back along with the addition of a few original ones.

[Hellsteeth30]

That would be a DRM issue TC. Anything like securom etc won't work on Win 10 as a file called secdrv.sys was removed. It was kind of a huge security flaw that granted root access to the OS, so anything virus, trojan etc related could be a major problem.

Try a no-cd exe if you don't fancy buying the game again. I've done the same with a couple of my older games like Freelancer.

[Space Coward]

Originally posted by Radioactive:

Originally posted by patnmor:

I'm ... or-god forbid- create an Origin account.

Just for the record, don't bother with origin, the C&C collection is terrible. Most of it doesn't work out of the box on a modern OS (like win10) and it also is locked to Origin as a DRM form - which wouldn't matter except that it breaks most of the online fixes that would have worked for the First Decade bundle.

The Origin collection is great, though! It all works fine after a few VERY minor workarounds, and $20 is dirt-cheap for what you get (considering how even at the sale price it gives you all of the Steam C&C games and then some).

Tiberian Sun just needs to be run in Win98 compatibility mode as an administrator, from my experience, while for some reason you need to launch Generals: Zero Hour before the main game (and run both in WinXP SP3 mode to fix performance). That's it.

[patnmor]

I have heard that about the Origin collection. However, I'm not that desperate to get all of the C&C games working. Now if EA would update them to work completely on modern OSs and release them for services like Steam or GOG, then I would pruchase them. Otherwise, I won't spend a penny with EA, especially with how they "ended" the Tiberium series.

[Space Coward]

I mean, they do work. It's just that GENERALS in specific has some issues. I definitely agree that they should bring back the DOS versions (which are missing from the Origin version) as they're generally more stable running in DOSBox than the Windows 95 versions.

Also, not sure what you're talking about with the sendoff. I thought RA3 Uprising was an awesome final (for now) entry, and Kane's Wrath was great too. I wish we could get a C&C4, but maybe at a later date, right?
<ssshhh>

[Radioactive]

Originally posted by Moss:

Originally posted by Radioactive:

Just for the record, don't bother with origin, the C&C collection is terrible. Most of it doesn't work out of the box on a modern OS (like win10) and it also is locked to Origin as a DRM form - which wouldn't matter except that it breaks most of the online fixes that would have worked for the First Decade bundle.

The Origin collection is great, though! It all works fine after a few VERY minor workarounds, and $20 is dirt-cheap for what you get (considering how even at the sale price it gives you all of the Steam C&C games and then some).

Tiberian Sun just needs to be run in Win98 compatibility mode as an administrator, from my experience, while for some reason you need to launch Generals: Zero Hour before the main game (and run both in WinXP SP3 mode to fix performance). That's it.

Firstly, are you running Win 10? Win 7 and 8 don't have many issues because the original games were really well made and can natively run on 7 and 8 (with minor issues --and 7 and 8 were more compatible to older Windows than Win 10)- which doesn't change the fact that EA is immensely lazy for not adding proper support modern hardware and modern OS (its insane that you need to run some of the games in compatibility mode at all, if a collection of final fantasy games was released, you wouldn't expect to have to run it through compatibility mode)

On Win 10 - albeit my Win 10 laptop uses integrated graphics intel 5500 (still way more powerful then should be needed). C&C Renegade flat out doesn't work and Tiberium Sun and Red Alert IIhave UI issues (with parts of the game not being properly initialized), and Tiberium Dawn and Red Alert I, do not work.

Adding insult to injury, since orgin is a flaming pile of burning ♥♥♥♥, you are unable to utilize online fixes as orgin manages the game launch - the first decade at least doesn't have this issue and properly works (ironic since it was release far earlier than the C&C bundle). $20 is a great price for a lazy bundle of code that doesn't work.

[Space Coward]

Windows 7 had loads of issues, my Windows 8.1 and 10 computers actually had a much easier time with the classics. The only real issues were the cutscenes, which needed pixel doubling desperately as they were meant for interlaced monitors and DOSBox can emulate that much better. That said, it probably would be nice if they made an update to flag compatibility mode by default (as many GOG games do), and I'll probably try to pass this on later in any way possible (and no, I have nothing to do with EA, but their support is awesome and it's worth a shot).

Tiberium Sun and Red Alert 2 both render fine for me, but Tiberian Sun had stability issues before I ran as an admin. Red Alert 2 worked out of the box for me, but a friend of mine with the Win10 UPGRADE (which causes loads of issues, mind you) had to use a fairly simple workaround that I found online.

Origin doesn't stop modding at all, but you probably want the "improved launchers" (go look up the PCGW page) to improve compatibility with them. The C&C Ultimate launchers are terrible, I'll give you that. They also get in the way of the Steam overlay, to my disappointment.

That said, I like Origin a lot. They've improved it drastically and overall everything's pretty smooth. AMD External Events seemed to be causing the Steam-Origin issues, not Origin itself, and now I have no problem playing BF4 or Mass Effect 2 on the Steam Link. I'll also say that Origin Access is awesome in every way for what it gives you, but I'll stop shilling now for your own sanity.

[patnmor]

Originally posted by Moss:

I mean, they do work. It's just that GENERALS in specific has some issues. I definitely agree that they should bring back the DOS versions (which are missing from the Origin version) as they're generally more stable running in DOSBox than the Windows 95 versions.

Also, not sure what you're talking about with the sendoff. I thought RA3 Uprising was an awesome final (for now) entry, and Kane's Wrath was great too. I wish we could get a C&C4, but maybe at a later date, right?
<ssshhh>

My apologies, I was specifically talking about Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight. I really like Red Alert 3 and Kane's Wrath. In fact, Red Alert 3 is still on my pc. I haven't played it in a while, but I really liked how they made naval combat an important part of the game, something sorely lacking in the later Tiberium series and Generals series in my opinion. Also, my pc is running Windows 10 64 bit with an Nvidia GTX 750 video card. I'll see if Blake's or Hellsteeth30 suggestions work.

[Radioactive]

Originally posted by Moss:

Windows 7 had loads of issues, my Windows 8.1 and 10 computers actually had a much easier time with the classics. The only real issues were the cutscenes, which needed pixel doubling desperately as they were meant for interlaced monitors and DOSBox can emulate that much better. That said, it probably would be nice if they made an update to flag compatibility mode by default (as many GOG games do), and I'll probably try to pass this on later in any way possible (and no, I have nothing to do with EA, but their support is awesome and it's worth a shot).

You know what would be better than setting compatibility mode by default? Spending the time to make the game work natively rather than make a quick buck off of nostalgia.

Say what you will about AOE II HD edition - it may not be perfect but its miles ahead of EA's lazy cash grabs.

[Space Coward]

Originally posted by patnmor:

Originally posted by Moss:

I mean, they do work. It's just that GENERALS in specific has some issues. I definitely agree that they should bring back the DOS versions (which are missing from the Origin version) as they're generally more stable running in DOSBox than the Windows 95 versions.

Also, not sure what you're talking about with the sendoff. I thought RA3 Uprising was an awesome final (for now) entry, and Kane's Wrath was great too. I wish we could get a C&C4, but maybe at a later date, right?
<ssshhh>

My apologies, I was specifically talking about Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight. I really like Red Alert 3 and Kane's Wrath. In fact, Red Alert 3 is still on my pc. I haven't played it in a while, but I really liked how they made naval combat an important part of the game, something sorely lacking in the later Tiberium series and Generals series in my opinion. Also, my pc is running Windows 10 64 bit with an Nvidia GTX 750 video card. I'll see if Blake's or Hellsteeth30 suggestions work.

Yeah, I was messing with you. I gave that one a shot a while back thinking there's no way it could be as bad as it was said to be. Even the FMVs were trash, the gameplay was like a half-assed MOBA... wow.

EA really screwed that one, and hopefully next time around they'll realise that trying to make RTS's mainstream is a lost cause for old IPs.

[Space Coward]

Originally posted by Radioactive:

Originally posted by Moss:

Windows 7 had loads of issues, my Windows 8.1 and 10 computers actually had a much easier time with the classics. The only real issues were the cutscenes, which needed pixel doubling desperately as they were meant for interlaced monitors and DOSBox can emulate that much better. That said, it probably would be nice if they made an update to flag compatibility mode by default (as many GOG games do), and I'll probably try to pass this on later in any way possible (and no, I have nothing to do with EA, but their support is awesome and it's worth a shot).

You know what would be better than setting compatibility mode by default? Spending the time to make the game work natively rather than make a quick buck off of nostalgia.

Say what you will about AOE II HD edition - it may not be perfect but its miles ahead of EA's lazy cash grabs.

Trust me, what EA did is way better than that $%@&ing abomination masquerading as AoE II on Steam. The netcode is entirely as it should be and unlike many older games rereleased, it has all parts intact (FMVs, the badass Frank Klepaki soundtrack, and so on).

A few compatibility flags is nothing, and what it really needs is an update as it mostly worked alright back at release. Still, I have absolutely no regrets buying it as it works with the Steam versions and it was $20 for all of them, including the ones on Steam.

[TheLoknar]

i cant get this game to run either. it just doesnt start. i get the c&c 3 green box then it dissapears then nothing.

windows 10
i5 7200u
hd 620
8gb ram

i know i dont have the best system but i feel like it should be good enough to run this.... i can run dawn of war 2 and company of heroes 2 without too many problems. i really wanted to play this game any help would be appreciated.